ZANZIBAR TOURS & EXCURSIONS: BEYOND THE BEACHES
We’ve all heard of the famous Zanzibar Beaches – from white sand and crystal clear blue water at Nungwi beach to surreal dive spots around Mnemba Island. But what is actually beyond the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar? Let me share some of the best Zanzibar tours you can take part in to further explore the Island should you get tired of just soaking up the sun and chilling on the beach.
TOP 13 ZANZIBAR DAY TOURS & EXCURSIONS
Visit Zanzibar’s most famous landmarks and attractions on one of these top Zanzibar tours. Our tours are all about immersing yourself in a destination, getting the most out of the place that you’re in, and just having a fantastic time. Take a look at our Zanzibar Cheat Sheet to discover more about Zanzibar.
1. Stone Town – Stone Town Tour
It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the capital and cultural heart of Zanzibar and is what makes this island so different from a thousand other tropical isles, little changed in the last 200 years.
Go on a 2 hour guided stone town tour through the town’s narrow streets and Learn Zanzibar’s history and eminent personalities, discover interesting artifacts, myriad of small shops, its mix of people, its bustling markets and eateries, mosques, churches, and Hindu temples combining and homogenizing disparate elements of different cultures.
Your guide will spot the most interesting things to see and spice them up with informative and witty anecdotes.
2. Spice Plantations – Spice Tours
A visit to the spice plantations of Zanzibar is probable the best way of seeing the island’s countryside and Discovering why Zanzibar is called “The Spice Islands.”.
Go on a guided spice tour, starting with a drive through a profusion of greenery in the countryside. While taking tourists on walking tours through the spice plantations, local guides will pluck bunches of leaves from various bushes and ask visitors to guess what they are. Most will be found in the average kitchen spice rack – black pepper, chilies, cinnamon, cloves, coconut, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, nutmeg, turmeric, and vanilla. Guests also get to know about, see, smell and taste a variety of mouth-watering tropical seasonal fruits and spices of Zanzibar.
A full spice tour involves much more than spices, you will visit the Kidichi Persian Baths, built-in 1850 by Seyyid Said bin Sultan for his Persian wife Princess Sheherezade granddaughter of the Shah of Persia.
3. Jozani Forest – Jozani Forest Tours
Thirty-five kilometres south-east from Stone town is the Jozani Forest Reserve, an area of 10 sq km whose thick forests, with trees over 100 years old, and one of the last remaining sanctuaries of the red colobus monkey.
Home to an endemic species of Kirk’s colobus monkeys, mangrove swamps, 100m tall trees, bush babies, butterflies, and tropical birds, this is a slice of wild Africa personified.
Go on a Jozani forest tour and visit the various parts of the forest including an area with re-planted species of trees from different parts of the world, and go on a mangrove boardwalk tour. The forest is well worthwhile for those who enjoy wild-life.
4. Prison Island – Prison Tour & Snorkelling Trip
With its private white sandy beach surrounded by the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean, this historical island is home to a prison built to condemn Zanzibar’s citizens to isolation.
Go on a prison island tour and learn about the island’s past and discover the amazing underwater life while on a snorkelling trip or just relax at the beautiful beach. Birds and other small animals inhabit the woods, but the most famous residents are its giant land tortoises.
5. Chumbe Island – Chumbe Island Day Trip
Chumbe Island is a rare example of a still pristine coral island. A UN Protected Area, it carries the accolade of “one of the most spectacular coral gardens anywhere in the world”.
Spend the day on a tour to the world-renowned Chumbe coral reef sanctuary and the lush tropical forest reserve that envelopes the island. Enjoy fantastic snorkeling and swimming, guided walks through the forest trails and intertidal area (if low tide), and delicious freshly cooked lunch on the island. A private room for day use will be provided.
6. North Coast Trip (Nungwi)
The north coast is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar. Look out for traditional dhow constructors in action; you may be invited to try your hands at this unique craft.
A visit to the Nungwi turtle sanctuary and aquarium follows, along with a guided tour of Nungwi village. Explore the Nungi beach where you can enjoy an optional lunch at one of the beach’s popular restaurants and spend the afternoon sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling.
7. Sandbank Picnic Tour
Jump onboard and spend a day cruising around turquoise seas in a handmade Dhow. You’ll head out and visit islands just off the coast off of Zanzibar’s Stonetown – Prison Island, where you’ll meet the giant tortoise and learn about the island’s history before setting sail to a beautiful sandbank. Spend the day snorkelling, exploring the beach, or just lay back and pick up a few rays of the sun while you munch on your freshly prepared delicious barbecued lunch.
8. Safari Blue Tour
Zanzibar’s most talked sea adventure. Cruise around the Menai Conservation Bay on a traditional dhow skillfully handcrafted from African mahogany.
Explore the pristine coral reefs teeming with tropical sea fish, relax on a beautiful sandbank naturally curved by sea, dance to local music and enjoy a traditional Zanzibari buffet served from the grill, exotic fruits and juices, sodas, and chilled beers are served the whole day. All washed down with an Amarula and coffee cocktail drink as the sunsets.
9. Dolphin Tour – Swimming with Dolphins
Watching, and swimming with wild dolphins, in the waters around Zanzibar, can be an exciting and educational experience.
Drive to the little fishing village and beautiful beach of Kizimkazi, South of Stone Town. Onboard a traditional handmade boat, look out for the several schools of bottle-nosed and humpback dolphins, beautiful coral reefs, and tropical fish that call these waters home.
10. Sunset Cruise – In Stone Town or Nungwi
This is a 2-hour sunset dhow cruise that starts from the stone town beach at 17:00 hrs. Set sail on a traditional Arab dhow and Cruise northwards or southwards depending on the winds while enjoying a variety of Zanzibari light snacks, exotic fruit juice, ice-cold soda, chilled beer, or glass of wine as you enjoy a beautiful sunset.
11. Zanzibar Butterfly Centre Visit
Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is the largest butterfly enclosure in East Africa.
Here you can walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies in a beautiful tropical garden. At any one time, you’ll be able to see many of Zanzibar’s exotic butterflies and witness, close up, every stage of their amazing lifecycle.
12. Zala Park Tour
Zala Park is a small reserve where you can learn how local people become creative to protect endangered reptiles and animals.
A tour of Zala Park offers an opportunity to get a very close encounter with the reptiles of Zanzibar. The animal species are big pythons, chameleons, geckos, tortoises, crabs, dikdik (mini gazelle-like animals), striped lizards, monitor lizards, and hyrax (the closest living species to the elephant).
13. Village Tour
Our village and sightseeing tour takes you south through small towns and past stunning scenery as we alternate between villages and beaches. The trip will give you an insight into the day to day lifestyle and activities in the villages south of Stone Town. We will stop at selected places of interest and you can meet the locals.
| There is no shortage of things to do while on vacation in Zanzibar, let our dedicated team of experts show you wonders you’d never find on your own. We make sure every one of our tours in Zanzibar runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. You’ll be in good hands with us every step of the way… |
